Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief. New York: Miramax /Hyperion for Children, 2005. Print.
Summary
The Greek gods are alive and well and living in the modern-day United States. That's what Perseus "Percy" Jackson finds out the hard way when he is attacked by his math teacher, one of Hades' Furies, while on a field trip. The eleven-year-old soon finds himself whisked off to Camp Half-Blood in Long Island, a camp for children whose parents are gods, which Percy finds out he is one. When Zeus' lightning bolt is stolen and Percy is targeted as the number-one suspect, he, fellow camper Annabeth, and satyr Grover set out on a cross-country quest to prevent World War III.
My Impressions
I've heard a lot about this book being called a "American Harry Potter", and on the surface, it is rather true. Like Harry, Percy soon finds he has a big reputation preceding him, and has to set out on a epic quest with his two friends. However, the clever conceit of the Greek gods living and interacting with our society keeps things fresh and appealing. As someone who grew up devouring the Greek myths, it was especially fun playing "Spot the Creature" as Percy went against various figures from the Minotaur to Medusa.
What Other Reviewers Said
A clever concept drives Riordan's highly charged children's book debut (the first in a series): the Greek Gods still rule, though now from a Mt. Olympus on the 600th floor of the Empire State Building, and their offspring, demigods, live among human beings. Narrator Percy Jackson thinks he's just another troubled 12-year-old, until he vaporizes his math teacher, learns his best friend, Grover, is a satyr and narrowly escapes a minotaur to arrive at Camp Half-Blood. After a humorous stint at camp, Percy learns he's the son of Poseidon and embarks on a quest to the Underworld with Grover and Annabeth (a daughter of Athena) to resolve a battle between Zeus and Poseidon over Zeus's stolen "master" lightning bolt. Without sacrificing plot or pacing, Riordan integrates a great deal of mythology into the tale and believably places mythical characters into modern times, often with hilarious results (such as Hades ranting about the problem of "sprawl," or population explosion). However, on emotional notes the novel proves less strong (for example, Percy's grief for his mother rings hollow; readers will likely spot the "friend" who betrays the hero, as foretold by the Oracle of Delphi, before Percy does) and their ultimate confrontation proves a bit anticlimactic. Still, this swift and humorous adventure will leave many readers eager for the next installment. Ages 10-up. (1)
Gr 5-9 --An adventure-quest with a hip edge. At first glance, Perseus Jackson seems like a loser (readers meet him at a boarding school for troubled youth), but he's really the son of Poseidon and a mortal woman. As he discovers his heritage, he also loses that mother and falls into mortal danger. The gods (still very active in the 21st-century world) are about to go to war over a lost thunderbolt, so Percy and sidekicks Grover (a young satyr) and Annabeth (daughter of Athena) set out to retrieve it. Many close calls and monster-attacks later, they enter Hades's realm (via L.A.). A virtuoso description of the Underworld is matched by a later account of Olympus (hovering 600 floors above Manhattan). There's lots of zippy review of Greek myth and legend, and characters like Medusa, Procrustes, Charon, and the Eumenides get updates. Some of the Labors of Heracles or Odysseus's adventures are recycled, but nothing seems stale, and the breakneck pace keeps the action from being too predictable. Percy is an ADHD, wise-cracking, first-person narrator. Naturally, his real quest is for his own identity. Along the way, such topics as family, trust, war, the environment, dreams, and perceptions are raised. There is subtle social critique for sophisticated readers who can see it. Although the novel ends with a satisfying conclusion (and at least one surprise), it is clear that the story isn't over. The 12-year-old has matured and is ready for another quest, and the villain is at large. Readers will be eager to follow the young protagonist's next move. (2)
Suggested Activity
Percy Jackson's exploits provide the perfect introduction to the Greek myths. Read the original stories and compare how heroes such as Hercules and Percy's namesake Perseus handled things.
Other Citations
(1) "The Lightning Thief." Publishers Weekly 252.28 (2005): 207. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 20 Oct. 2010.
(2) Lothrop, Patricia D. "The Lightning Thief." School Library Journal 51.8 (2005): 134. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 20 Oct. 2010.
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